Sermon for Sunday April 8th, 2007
Peace Be With You by David Richardson
Luke 24:36-24:39
Title: Peace be with you.
Scripture:
Luke 24:36-39
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and
said to them, "Peace be with you." 37 They were startled and frightened,
thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do
doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself!
Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."
Introduction:
Jesus was led away from the Garden of Gethsemane by temple guards, elders and
priests. He was taken before the ruling council and questioned. During that time
He was beaten and deprived of sleep and food and water. He was then taken to
Pilate, who, after learning that Jesus was from Galilee, sent Him off to Herod.
Herod had jurisdiction over the Galilean area, and happened to be visiting
Jerusalem. Like Pilate, he examined Jesus but could find no basis for the Jews
accusation against him. So, he sent Jesus back to Pilate.
Pilate desired to release him, but finally succumbed to the pressure of the
Jewish ruling council to crucify Jesus.
Subsequently, Jesus was led out along with two thieves to a place called the
Skull and crucified there. After He gave up the Spirit, His body was taken down
by Joseph of Arimathea. Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin, whom the Bible calls
a good and upright man, placed Jesus’ body in a tomb that Joseph had purchased
for himself.
These events, though briefly described are written about in great detail in the
gospels. Additionally, one can find in historical texts and tablets this same
event. But, that’s not where we want to focus. What we want to take a look at is
His glorious resurrection and what it means to you and me.
Buddha is still in the tomb. Confucius is still in the tomb. Mohammed is still
in the tomb. And, all their bones can be found there if you care to look through
old musty bones.
But, Jesus on the third day after being placed in the tomb rose again. Like the
great light that shone forth on the third day in Genesis 1:14, Jesus, rose from
the dead to be a light to all men.
On the third day, the Lord told Moses, in Exodus 19, that He would come down on
Mt. Sinai before the sight of all the people. And, when He did the people
trembled at the sight of the smoke and the sound of the Lord’s voice.
People still tremble today when they are given the opportunity to put their
faith in Jesus. People still tremble today when they are given the opportunity
to follow God. Jesus triumphed over death by rising again and loosing Satan’s
hold over those that have put their faith in Jesus Christ.
Our scripture focus tonight, Resurrection Sunday, is:
Luke 24:38
He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?
---------points----------
Why are you troubled? You’re free!
Why do you doubt? You’re free!
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Why are you troubled? You’re Free!
When the disciples were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee rowing against a strong
wind, Jesus came by walking on water. Scripture says that He would have kept on
walking by, but the disciples called out to Him. He knew they were in trouble,
but they almost didn’t recognize the need to call out for Jesus.
When He came to them, He said “Peace be with you.” The NIV says in the book of
John, “Do not be afraid.” Which is essentially the same thing that He says when
He appeared to the disciple after His resurrection, “Peace be with you.”
Calm your troubled mind… Don’t be afraid, he says, for He is with you until the
end of time.
I want to call your attention to one very important detail concerning the last
day of Jesus’ life before His death. When He was arrested in the Garden of
Gethsemane, when He appeared before the Jewish ruling council, and before
Pilate, then before Herod, then again before Pilate, and as He went to the
cross, there is one important thing that is missing. In all of that there is no
mention or inference that He doubted, or was afraid or was troubled. The only
time when we could possible infer that He might have been afraid is when God had
to turn His back on His Son while the sin of the world was laid on Jesus’
shoulders. That was your and my sin, by the way.
Can you picture being without God and His Spirit to guide you? Can you picture
being all alone in this world without the Spirit of God to comfort you in those
difficult situations? Try as hard as we can, we could never visualize such an
occurrence because it would never happen because that is why Jesus went to the
cross in the first place!
So, He says to us…He says to you…
Why are you troubled?
The disciples are busy making up contingency plans, “What are we going to do
since Jesus isn’t here? What are we going to do since He’s not guiding us in
this situation?”
You know what the funny thing is? Many times we act exactly the same way. We
draw those contingency plans in our minds, just in case God won’t be leading us
in the direction we want to go. We trouble ourselves with senseless planning and
thinking when we should step back and listen to those words of Jesus after He
rose from the dead, “Why are you troubled?”
Why are you troubled? Because, like those disciples that were straining against
the oars in that boat, maybe you didn’t think to call out for Jesus. You didn’t
think that He would come and help you out of your situation, out of your
predicament. But, He will. That’s why He went to the cross. That’s why He
sacrificed His life, so that you and I could be reconciled to God and have the
power of heaven to help us in any and every circumstance.
Why are you troubled? Jesus isn’t in the tomb, He’s in heaven making constant
intercession on behalf of the saints.
Why are you troubled? Jesus isn’t in the tomb, and He’s given us the Comforter
to help us in times of need.
Philippians 4
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus.
Why are you troubled? You’re free!
Why do you doubt? You’re free!
What is the opposite of faith? Doubt is the opposite of faith. Jesus tells us in
scripture that “…if we have faith and do not doubt…”
The disciples when they rowed against the wind on the Sea of Galilee...now that
was trouble. But, when Peter got out of that boat and began to walk to Jesus,
then took his eyes off of Jesus and began to sink...now that was doubt.
These things stand before us today and there should be no doubt in our minds:
Jesus was born of a virgin…do you doubt it?
Jesus led a sinless life…do you doubt it?
Jesus performed miracles on this earth…do you doubt it?
Jesus went to the cross and gave His life for the sin of the world…do you doubt
it?
Jesus was laid in the tomb and on the third day rose again…do you doubt it?
Jesus appeared before the disciples, and many more people, and to Paul…do you
doubt it?
Jesus ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of the Father in
heaven and is making intercession for you and I…do you doubt it?
If any of these cause any doubt in your mind, if any of these that I’ve read
cause you to hesitate at all, then we will waver and doubt in other things as
well. We must accept these as truths or the very foundation of your faith will
be shaken and like James says,
(1:6b) “…he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”
Summary:
Jesus stands before us today alive and full of glory, power and honor, and He
might be asking one or two of us here the same question that He asked the
disciples almost two thousand years ago, “Why are you troubled? Why do you
doubt? I’m alive!”